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Keywords:
Foreign bodies, Technical aspects, Removal, Cost-effectiveness, Catheter venography, Catheter arteriography, Veins / Vena cava, Vascular, Interventional vascular
Authors:
M. Jehangir, A. Rana, E. M. Kiani; Islamabad/PK
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2015/C-1536
Aims and objectives
Percutaneous retrieval of foreign bodies is an increasingly utilized technique as the range of endovascular procedures continues to expand.
It is generally safe,
effective and avoids the morbidity associated with open surgical retrieval (1).
Myriad of endovascular devices have evolved including vascular access catheters,
guidewires,
endovascular stents and embolization coils (2).
Of note vena cava filter devices have assumed a clinically important role in the prevention of life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE) when anticoagulation has been ineffective or contraindicated (1,2). However,
such devices when left in situ are a source of potentially serious complications such as septicemia,
thromboembolism,
filter migration and vascular perforation.
Timely and safe retrieval is the key to avoid such complications (2).
Retrieval techniques largely depend on the design and location of intravascular foreign bodies (3).
Commercial devices include forceps,
snares and graspers for inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal,
stone retrieval baskets and loop snares designed for embolization coil retrieval (4).
We report a cost effective alternative technique exclusively using self-made wire snares for endovascular foreign body retrieval in 6 cases.
Snares can be assembled from an appropriately shaped standard diagnostic catheter and guidewire.
In current practice there are only few publications supporting the successful use of self made wire snares as exclusive retrieval devices (3,
5).